Rock M Pick’ Em: Week 11
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The College Football regular season is winding down. Coming off their bye week, Missouri has four games remaining with their CFP hopes on the line as 22nd-ranked Mizzou hosts No. 3 Texas A&M in Columbia. ESPN’s College Gameday heads to Lubbock for BYU at Texas Tech and some other key games highlight the Saturday slate.
Let’s pick ‘em (with the odds provided by our partners over at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Stava: 26-13
Deck: 19-10
Gustafson: 17-12
Hurst: 17-8
Matejka: 14-11
No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies (-7.5) at No. 22 Missouri Tigers (2:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: This will mark the first time I’ll pick against Mizzou this season. A true freshman QB making his starting debut against the No. 3 team in the country might just be asking too much. Tigers will be able to make it interesting, but the Aggies pull away late. 30-21. TAMU.
True Deck: I genuinely think Missouri knows that it has to come into this game like it is its last. I think Zollers and the Tigers find a way to an upset, and take down the undefeated Aggies. If Mizzou wins it, it’ll be a sloppy game. I’ll take the Tigers to shock the world, 23-19.
Matthew Gustafson: Zollers impressed in relief of Pribula against Vanderbilt, and may have been the better quarterback for the Tigers that day. But expecting an upset against a top-notch Texas A&M squad in his starting debut might be too tall a task. Corey Batoon’s defense and the Faurot Field crowd will help keep this close, but I’ve got the Aggies with a narrow 24-21 win.
Nathan Hurst:
Josh Matejka: I do think that Mizzou’s defense is good enough to hang with anyone. And I mean anyone. But I just can’t see the Tigers mustering up enough points to make this upset happen. I think it’ll be a tight one heading into the fourth quarter, but either Marcel Reed busts a big play or Matt Zollers makes a crucial mistake that ices it for the Aggies. I’ll say 27-17, with the Aggies adding a late score to cover.
No. 7 BYU Cougars at No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders (-9.5) (11:00 a.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: I wasn’t a believer in this Texas Tech team early in the season, but I am now. Red Raiders have the momentum with College Gameday in Lubbock and Behren Morton has the better quarterback play. 35-30, Wreck ‘Em.
True Deck: I’ve believed that BYU is legit all season and it’s time for the world to know. With College Gameday in Lubbock, give me the upset, 31-30, Cougars.
Matthew Gustafson: Much like Sammy, I was skeptical of the Red Raiders early in the season, but they’ve proven themselves as legitimate CFP contenders. The hype surrounding the program’s biggest game in years, and with College GameDay in town, should provide a major boost. Texas Tech wins a barn burner, 38-31.
Nathan Hurst:
Josh Matejka:
No. 9 Oregon Ducks (-6.5) at No. 20 Iowa Hawkeyes (2:30 p.m. CST on CBS)
Sammy Stava: This has the makings of an upset in Iowa City. Can the Hawkeye’s defense frustrate Dante Moore and the Ducks? They certainly can, but Oregon will have just enough firepower to pull away. 24-20, Quack.
True Deck: I don’t see Iowa showing enough firepower to compete with Dante Moore and I don’t really think it stays that close. I’ll take Oregon to win and cover, 28-13.
Matthew Gustafson: Iowa is certainly a tough squad to play this year, but I’m not convinced they have what it takes to knock off a top-tier opponent like Oregon. I’ll take the Ducks in a close one, 27-21.
Nathan Hurst:
Josh Matejka: I don’t know what to think of Oregon as they’ve struggled to convince me they’re the total package. I do think, however, that their offense is very good. Good enough to outscore Iowa, no matter how stingy their defense can be. Oregon 27, Iowa 20.
Auburn Tigers at No. 16 Vanderbilt Commodores (-6.5) (3:00 p.m. CST on SEC Network)
Sammy Stava: Diego Pavia and the Commodores win comfortably at home after a tough road loss in Austin. 34-17.
True Deck: Vanderbilt needs a strong win following a rough loss at home. If it goes the other way, the Commodores are likely done. I think Diego Pavia take care of business against a Hugh Freeze-less Auburn. 31-21, Vandy.
Matthew Gustafson: Despite the loss to the Longhorns, I still believe Vanderbilt will make the College Football Playoff. And if they don’t, I certainly wouldn’t expect Auburn to be the team that gets in the Commodores’ way with this game taking place in Nashville. Vandy wins this one 28-21.
Nathan Hurst:
Josh Matejka: Auburn is cooked. Vanderbilt needs to rebound to keep their CFP hopes alive. Commodores 35, Auburn 20.
LSU Tigers at No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (-9.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: This one could get ugly, and quick. Bama rolls under the lights at home with an impressive game from Ty Simpson. 37-21, Tide.
True Deck: I think the Alabama is really good, and I think that Ty Simpson is really really good. The Tigers on the other hand, not so much. Give me the Tide with a strong win, 31-14.
Matthew Gustafson: Just like the game above, I’m not expecting there to be a dead cat bounce for the Bayou Bengals. Alabama is rolling toward a playoff appearance and possibly the SEC Championship Game, too. The Crimson Tide win 35-17.
Nathan Hurst:
Josh Matejka: LSU is cooked. Alabama needs to rebound to keep their SEC Championship hopes alive. Alabama 38, LSU 23.
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